Berth step



(N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. E. GROW.

BERTH STEP.

No. 552,825 Patented Jan. 7, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFlCE.

ALFRED n. onow, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

BERTH-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters llatent No. 552,825, dated January '7, 1896.

Application filed lliay 12,1394. Renewed April 13, 1895. Serial No- 546,2'77 (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ALFRED E. Cnow, of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Berth'Steps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of steps or ladders which are used in reaching the upperberths f sleeping-cars and vessels, and the object of my invention is to produce an extremely simple device of this kind, which has a swinging frame adapted when not in use to close into a recess of a berth-rail and so be entirely out of the way, to provide a series of folding steps which are adapted to fold into the rail with the frame, to arrange the steps in. such a manner that when the frame is swung open they will automatically drop into position for use, and to connect the steps with the frame in such a way that when the frame is swung to close it the steps will be automatically folded up ready to enter the recess in the rail.

To these ends my invention consists of certain features of construction and combina tions of parts, which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a sleepingcar berth provided with my improved steps, the latter being in folded position. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional plan. of the apparatus in closed position. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the steps open ready for use. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail side elevation of the closed steps and their supporting-frame. Fig. 5 is a broken front elevation, partly in section, of the open steps; and Fi g. 6 is a broken detail view showing the connection between one of the risers or side pieces of the steps and the step proper or tread.

I have shown my improved apparatus as applied to the rail 10 of a sleeping-car berth, although it will be understood that the steps may be fastened, as hereinafter described, to a supporting-rail of any kind, and used for any purpose whatever without departing from the principle of my invention.

The steps are hung in a swinging frame 11 which is hinged at one end, as shown at 12, and is adapted to close into a recess 10 in the rail, (see Fig. 2,) or to swing open and lie parallel with the rail, as shown in 3. The steps, when not in. use, are folded snugly in the open frame 11, and the frame is held closed by a button 13 or equivalent device and is held open by an ordinary spring-catch 14. The frame has a transverse horizontal plate 15 near the top and to the under side of this is hinged the folding steps or ladder 10, comprising the steps 17 and the folding side pieces 18, these being hinged to the steps and beneath the plate 15, as shown at 19 in Fig. 5, and the side pieces are provided with hingejoints 20 at points midway between the steps 17 and between the upper step and the plate 15, so that the said side pieces may fold inward, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4, and permit the steps to be pushed up into the frame 11, as clearly illustrated in said figure. The side pieces 18 incline inward slightly between the hinges 19 so that they fold readily when the steps 17 are raised.

The steps 17 project slightly outward be- 011d the side pieces 18 and are slotted, as

shown at 21in Fig. 6, to act as guides for the cables 22 which are secured to the lower step at opposite ends and project upward through slots 23 in the plate 1-5, passing over suitable guide-pulleys 24 in said slots and are attached to a double drum 25, so that when the drum is wound the steps may be lifted from the bottom and the side pieces caused to fold inward, as specified.

The drum 25 has on one end a pulley 26, to which is secured a second cable 27, which passes outward over a guide-pulley 28 in a slot 29 in the frame 11 and extends through a hole 30 in the rail 10 and is made fast to studs 81. It will be understood, however, that the cable 27 may be made fast in any convenient way.

The cables 2'7 and 22 are reversely wound, so that when one is wound up the other is unwound, and in this Way the opening of the frame 11 permits the steps to drop of their own weight and unwind the drum 25, which winds up the cable 27 on the pulley 26, and when the frame is closed the cable 27 is unwound and the drum 25 turned so as to wind up the cables 22 and lift the steps, which are thus automatically folded by the swinging of the frame 11.

It will be understood that the weight of the ladder will put the cable 27 under tension when the swinging support or frame is closed, so that upon the release of the catch. 13 the frame will automatically swing open and allow the ladder to drop.

It will also be observed, by reference to Figs. 5 and 6, that the ends of the side pieces 18 abut against each other at the hinges and against the steps 17 at the hinges 19 when the ladder is extended, thus holding the side pieces in an inwardly inclined position so that the ladder will be prevented from swayin g, and will also readily fold when an upward pull is exerted on the cables 22. In order to further facilitate this folding movement the hinges 20 are located exteriorly of the side pieces 18, and the hinges 19 on the inside of the same.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with the swinging frame and the folding steps therein, of the drum journaled in the frame, cables secured to the lower step and extending over suitable guides to the drum, and a second cable connected with the drum and extending over suitable guide pulleys to a connection with a rigid support, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the swinging frame and the transverse plate therein, of the folding steps suspended from the under side of the plate, a drum journaled in one end of the frame, cables secured to the lower step and extending over suitable guide pulleys to the drum, and a second cable connected with the drum'and extending over suitable guide pulleys to a rigid support, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the movable support, the folding ladder whose upper end is secured directly to the said support, and the ladderraising mechanism operated by the movement of the support, substantially as described.

4:. The combination of the casing, the support movable toward and from the same, the folding ladder secured to the support and constructed to be received within the casin g, and the ladder-raisin g mechanism operated by the movement of the support, substantially as described.

5-. The combination of the pivoted support. the folding ladder secured thereto, and the ladder-raising mechanism operated by the swinging of the support, substantially as described.

0. The combination of the movable support, the folding ladder depending therefrom. and the ladder-raising mechanism connected directly to the ladder and to a fixed part so 'as to be actuated by the movement of the.

ladder support, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the stationary casing, the swinging support, the folding ladder secured to the support, the laddenraising cable connected to the ladder and to the casing so as to be put under tension by swinging the support to fold the ladder, and a catch to hold the support stationary against the tension of the ladder-raising mechanism, whereby when the catch is released, the support will automatically swing open to bring the ladder into the position in which it is adapted to be extended, substantially as described.

8. The combination of the frame or casing, the support mounted to move toward and from the frame, the folding ladder whose upper end is secured to the support so as to move therewith, and the ladder-raising mechanism operated by the movement of the sup port, substantially as described.

ALFRED E. CROXV.

\Vitnesses:

WARREN B. HUTCHINSON, G. SEDGWICK. 

